NASA plans to dig deep into Mars

The illustration from 2018 shows the work of the InSight landing gear on Mars. May 5, 2018 scheduled the start of the mission. The flight will take 6 months

NASA is ready to send a geological robot to the Red Planet, so that it penetrates into the depths that could not be reached before. Spacecraft InSight plan to launch this weekend. He can measure the pulse of the planet, as well as the size and composition of the nucleus.

The cost of the European mission has reached $ 1 billion. By probing the Martian entrails, scientists will be able to understand what scheme formed the rocky planets 4.5 billion years ago. Mars is less and less geologically active than Earth. Therefore, the planet has retained its ancient state.

After launch, InSight will launch two cubes called WALL-E and EVE (in honor of the cartoon characters), which will fly past the planet and check the potential link with InSight. To launch use the launch pad base Vandenberg (California). This will be the first NASA interplanetary mission launched not from the territory of Florida.

In the photo of March 1, 2018, technicians and engineers inspect the heat shield for NASA InSight spacecraft

Regardless of the starting point, the path to the Red Planet is still difficult. Usually the success of the mission reaches only 40%. The USA is the only country that managed to successfully land and control its spacecraft. InSight will use the same type of simple parachute deployment and engine roasting during the descent period, like the Phoenix landing gear in 2008. Of course, landing for a ship the size of several office desks is extremely difficult. That's why everyone is so excited. 7 minutes are required for entry, descent and landing.

The machine has a thin cylindrical drill bit that can drill 5 m into the Martian soil. The seismometer will be installed specifically on the surface to better control the vibrations. 694-pound InSight created on the design of the module Phoenix.

Interestingly, the mission’s scientific goals resemble the Apollo project. In the late 1960s and early 1970s. the Apollo apparatus drilled the lunar surface at 2.5 m in depth to measure the satellite’s underground heat flux.

Previous Martian missions focused on surface research, as well as the atmosphere and magnetic field. The flat equatorial region Elysium was chosen as the landing site. There are several large rocks that can damage a ship or block drilling.